Gary Arnold Norman

Gary Arnold Norman, 82, passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital. Gary is survived by his wife Suzanne Norman; his sisters Amelia Ann Norman and Opal Echols (Robert); his daughter Selena Walker (Edward); his daughter-in-law Elise; his nephew Dave Echols (Anita); his grandchildren Emma Norman, Sam Norman (Isabelle), Caleb Norman, Cecilia Walker, Zach Norman (Brinley), and Sylvia Armour (Jackson); and his great- grandchildren Lilly Burnette, Ellie Burnette, Vaughan Burnette, and Edward Armour. He's preceded in death by his parents Nathan Alexander Norman and Lizzie Booth Norman, his brother Nathan B Norman, and his son Greg Norman. Gary was born August 23, 1941 in Washington, Georgia to Nathan Alexander and Lizzie Booth Norman. A proud Wilkes County native, he graduated from Washington High School in 1959. On October 16, 1962, he married his wife Suzanne Norman from neighboring Lincoln County. During the course of their 60 years of marriage, they lived and worked in Atlanta, Tulsa, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Memphis. Along the way, they were blessed with two children, Greg and Selena. A first-generation college graduate, Gary earned his Bachelor's of Business from Georgia State University in 1965 and his Master's of Business Administration from Butler University in 1979. For over three decades, Gary worked in sales and marketing of apparel and textiles. For twenty years, Gary worked for Levi Strauss & Co. before coming home to Washington, Georgia with his wife to begin his semi-retired life closer to his family and grandchildren. Never one to sit still or quietly, Gary discovered how he could have a captive audience required to listen to his passion for the study of economics by serving as a teacher and lecturer. He quickly started substituting back at his high school alma mater before serving as a lecturer of economics for another 15+ years at the University of North Georgia, University of Georgia, and Gordon State College. Proud of his county and the community that raised him, Gary was involved in the Washington Wilkes Economic Development Board and the Washington-Wilkes Historical Foundation Board. In his free time, Gary enjoyed fishing, talking, business professional clothing, surfing the world wide web, emailing his sisters, reading print newspaper, eating crab legs, watching cable news, remembering names, talking to new people, buying yellow legal pads, interrogating his grandchildren on the telephone, and cheering on the Washington-Wilkes Tiger Basketball team. Up until a week before his death, he was doing the job he loved most by serving as a substitute teacher for Wilkes County Schools. Memorial Service will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 4 p.m. at Danburg Baptist Church, followed by an internment service. Immediately following the internment, a reception will be held in the Danburg Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks contributions in his memory to be made to Washington-Wilkes County School System, the Tiger Club and/or Danburg Baptist Church.

Beggs Funeral Home, Lincolnton is honored to serve the family of Mr. Gary Arnold Norman.